Helicopter Fire Fighting - Simple Techniques
Helicopters and choppers may not be the most innovative of today's aircraft, as compared to jets and shuttles, but when it comes to fighting crisis, it the most important of all.
Rescue missions, special task forces or relief missions- the helicopter has become the integral part of any government body, be it in administration or the military.
One of the most important tasks that the helicopters undertake is fire fighting- not fire fighting in residential area, but in huge areas like in the case of forest fires and terrorist attacks.
The destruction is on a large scale and efficient and quick management of crisis is required.
A lot depends on the competency of the pilot as well, because gadgets are of no use in ignorant hands.
Techniques: One of the simplest and the most effective methods that the chopper uses is the water bucket.
It is actually a portable bucket-like structure, hung externally below the helicopter using cargo hooks.
The mechanism is not very complicated, and once emptied, it can be refilled very quickly from nearby lakes and ponds, making it very efficient and quick in times of crisis.
Another such tool is the Bambi Bucket, which is a slightly advanced version of the water bucket and can be carried in distant regions as well, making fire fighting possible even in those remote regions where there are hardly any facilities for such severe possibilities.
Fire Extinguishers: Apart from water, the helicopter also uses chemicals and water enhancers like foams, gels and specially formulated fire retardants.
The helicopter is also used for Foam System Operations.
The manufacturers produce foam of different chemical densities to suit the requirements of different aircraft.
The foam is added to the water buckets in concentration levels of 0.
5% to 1.
0%, though they may differ according to circumstances.
Foam tanks are almost similar in use to water tanks but they require power pumps to operate.
Advantages: The helicopter is also an excellent way to survey the entire area and keep a contact with the ground personnel regarding the current situation.
The standard method of controlling fire is to start at the "heel" or the starting point of the fire and to continue along the "flanks" or the side, towards the area where it is headed.
This gives the added advantage of checking whether the fire has changed course and affected other area or not.
Moreover, a fire spreads more rapidly if it is moving uphill, because of the wind and other driving factors, and such situations are most efficiently controlled from the air.
These techniques that can be performed with helicopters make them a boon during rescue operations.
Rescue missions, special task forces or relief missions- the helicopter has become the integral part of any government body, be it in administration or the military.
One of the most important tasks that the helicopters undertake is fire fighting- not fire fighting in residential area, but in huge areas like in the case of forest fires and terrorist attacks.
The destruction is on a large scale and efficient and quick management of crisis is required.
A lot depends on the competency of the pilot as well, because gadgets are of no use in ignorant hands.
Techniques: One of the simplest and the most effective methods that the chopper uses is the water bucket.
It is actually a portable bucket-like structure, hung externally below the helicopter using cargo hooks.
The mechanism is not very complicated, and once emptied, it can be refilled very quickly from nearby lakes and ponds, making it very efficient and quick in times of crisis.
Another such tool is the Bambi Bucket, which is a slightly advanced version of the water bucket and can be carried in distant regions as well, making fire fighting possible even in those remote regions where there are hardly any facilities for such severe possibilities.
Fire Extinguishers: Apart from water, the helicopter also uses chemicals and water enhancers like foams, gels and specially formulated fire retardants.
The helicopter is also used for Foam System Operations.
The manufacturers produce foam of different chemical densities to suit the requirements of different aircraft.
The foam is added to the water buckets in concentration levels of 0.
5% to 1.
0%, though they may differ according to circumstances.
Foam tanks are almost similar in use to water tanks but they require power pumps to operate.
Advantages: The helicopter is also an excellent way to survey the entire area and keep a contact with the ground personnel regarding the current situation.
The standard method of controlling fire is to start at the "heel" or the starting point of the fire and to continue along the "flanks" or the side, towards the area where it is headed.
This gives the added advantage of checking whether the fire has changed course and affected other area or not.
Moreover, a fire spreads more rapidly if it is moving uphill, because of the wind and other driving factors, and such situations are most efficiently controlled from the air.
These techniques that can be performed with helicopters make them a boon during rescue operations.
